INTRODUCTION

Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories. Some work alone or as part of a team. They attempt to satisfy consumer desire for aesthetically designed clothing; and, because of the time required to bring a garment onto the market, must at times anticipate changing consumer tastes. Fashion designers attempt to design clothes which are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. They must consider who is likely to wear a garment and the situations in which it will be worn. They have a wide range and combinations of materials to work with and a wide range of colors, patterns and styles to choose from. Though most clothing worn for everyday wear falls within a narrow range of conventional styles, unusual garments are usually sought for special occasions, such as evening wear or party dresses. Some clothes are made specifically for an individual, as in the case of haute couture or bespoke tailoring. Today, most clothing is designed for the mass market, especially casual and every-day wear.

Fashion designer : Job description And Specification Job Description

Fashion designers conceptualize and create new clothing and accessory designs. They analyze fashion trends and work closely with production, marketing, and sales departments to design, produce, and promote a finished, ready-to-wear product for apparel manufacturers, specialty and retail stores, and individual clients. Fashion designers usually specialize in a specific line of clothing such as women, men, kids, maternity, bridal, sportswear, and so on. Generally, a fashion designer assumes a variety of tasks which include creating dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories. In larger fashion houses, individual designers may work in very specialized areas, such as t-shirts, evening dresses, maternity clothes, baby outfits, or denims. Depending on their level of responsibility and the company they work for, designers may work to their own brief or be given a brief to work towards, with specifications relating to colour, fabric and budget. The main areas of work for fashion designers are:

high street fashion: this is where the majority of designers work and where garments are mass manufactured (often in Europe or East Asia). Buying patterns, seasonal trends and celebrity catwalk influences play a key role in this design process. It is a commercial area and heavily media led; ready-to-wear (also known as prt--porter): Established designers create readyto-wear collections, produced in relatively small numbers; haute couture: This requires large amounts of time spent on the production of oneoff garments for the catwalk - which are often not practical to wear - usually to endorse other brands and create a look.

Typical work activities

Tasks depend on the market the designer is working for, but core responsibilities include:

creating/visualising an idea and producing a design by hand or using computeraided design (CAD); keeping up to date with emerging fashion trends as well as general trends relating to fabrics, colours and shapes; planning and developing ranges; working with others in the design team, such as buyers and forecasters, to develop products to meet a brief; liaising closely with sales, buying and production teams on an ongoing basis to ensure the item suits the customer, market and price points; understanding design from a technical perspective, i.e. producing patterns, toiles and technical specifications for designs; sourcing, selecting and buying fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments;

adapting existing designs for mass production; developing a pattern that is cut and sewn into sample garments and supervising the making up of these, including fitting, detailing and adaptations; overseeing production; negotiating with customers and suppliers; managing marketing, finances and other business activities, if working on a selfemployed basis.

Experienced designers with larger companies may focus more on the design aspect, with pattern cutters and machinists preparing sample garments. In smaller companies these, and other tasks, may be part of the designer's role.

JOB SPECIFICATION

Alternate Titles: Clothes Designer, Apparel Designer In larger fashion houses, individual designers may work in very specialized areas, such as t-shirts, evening dresses, maternity clothes, baby outfits, or denims. They need to undergo formal training from accredited fashion design schools in order to practice as a professional. As a fashion designer, you have to be knowledgeable about the latest fashion trends. In addition to that, you have to be well-versed in creating unique sketch designs for clothes and accessories, selection of fabric, and conceptualization of the final product. Typically, fashion design involves many sub-careers some of the most indemand are the following:

Footwear fashion designer: Their job is to create varying styles and designs that will be used for boots, shoes, and other types of footwear. Clothing fashion designer: They are mainly responsible for producing apparels and clothing lines for men, women and children. Accessory fashion designer: As the name suggests, they are primarily tasked to produce items that will be used to compliment an outfit. This may include hand bags, scarves, hat, eyewear and many more.

More experienced designers may be required to travel to promote their fashion lines. Fashion design is a demanding and unpredictable job with long hours, especially when

deadlines approach for launches, shows, or individual jobs, an example being tailors who produce custom designs for weddings and other special events. Within the broader field of fashion design, there are a number of specialty occupations such as technical designer, pattern maker, cutter, and textile designer. Fashion Training, Education, Advancement Most employers seek for fashion designers who were able to satisfy at least a 2-year or 4year degree. Additionally, those who have broad knowledge about textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, fabrics and current fashion trends will definitely have the advantage. In terms of educational requirements, an aspiring fashion designer should get formal training from a credible fashion designer school. Enrolling in either a 2-year Associate or a 4-year Bachelor course program is also a must. Aspiring fashion designers who want to run their own fashion design business should also have a degree in business, marketing, or fashion merchandising. A standard coursework of fashion design programs would normally include the following:

sewing and tailoring textiles and colors pattern making fashion history Computer-aided designs various types and designs of clothing

Most of the aspiring designers acquire their skills through internship programs as well as other relevant experiences. Some develop their talents by working in retail stores, custom tailor or personal stylist. By exposing themselves in various field works, they get to hone their marketing, sales and advertising skills in the process. As a professional fashion designer, employers expect applicants to possess the following qualities:

strong eye for detail a great appreciation for beauty superb skills in communication and problem-solving exception patternmaking and sewing skills strong sales, persuasion and presentation skills outstanding sketching ability (very important) above average leadership skills (a plus)

Career path of a fashion designer

Career path depends on the specific area of design you trained in, the work experience you have built up and your professional reputation. Another influencing factor will be the type of company you work for and the opportunities for career development within it. Progression may be slow, particularly at the start of your career. Being proactive and making contacts in the industry is essential in a sector where people frequently move jobs in order to progress their career and there is a lot of pressure to produce new ideas that are commercially viable. Typically, you will begin your career as an assistant. Design assistant roles differ widely, but typical responsibilities include sourcing and chasing fabric samples, making up sample cards, answering the telephone and making tea. Progression is then to a role with more creative input, involving proposing concepts and design ideas, although you are unlikely to have much influence on major decisions. Other activities include making up mood and trend boards and drawing up technical specifications for manufacturers, through to producing samples for ranges or assisting with the development of part of a range. The more established designers of the design team make the decisions on colour and mood for the season and design the more important elements of the range. It could take up to five years' related experience to secure such a position. With several years' design experience, progression is possible through senior designer roles to the position of associate designer. At this level, you will have considerable responsibility for overall design decisions and influences for the range, but as this is a management position others will do the actual design work. Designers may also consider becoming self-employed or moving into related occupations, such as retail buying, photography, fashion styling or journalism. Alternative career options in the fashion industry include colourist, fashion illustrator, fashion predictor, fashion stylist and pattern cutter/grader. Career Path: Design Assistant > Assistant Designer > Associate Designer > Fashion Director

Design Assistant
Initially, you will begin your career as an assistant. Design assistant roles differ widely, but typical responsibilities include sourcing and chasing fabric samples, making up sample cards, answering the telephone and making tea.. Other activities include making up mood and trend boards and drawing up technical specifications for manufacturers, through to producing samples for ranges or assisting with the development of part of a range.

Assistant Designer
Assistant designers generally help the main designer with his workload. Those who want to become a full-fledged designer start off as an assistant designer. The title "assistant designer" can exist in a variety of fields, including fashion design, graphic design, set design and interior design Assistant Fashion Designers

An assistant fashion designer assists the head designer with any tasks required and learns as much as possible from him. According to Great Sample Resume, the assistant researches current fashion styles and customer demand. She creates spec sheets that include all dimensions and sketches of the clothing pieces. Designs, specs and layouts are entered into a software system to preserve and access later. The assistant helps the production team create sample clothing pieces. She may also have to make changes to prototypes based on the head designer's request.

Associate Designer
The Associate Designer is responsible to design within a specific category while maintaining responsibilities as Design Department aid/support. They will create and execute original and seasonal design concepts that are market right. From concept to completion with a focus on function, quality, style, and creativity. Train under the Director and Sr. Designer to develop necessary skills to successfully complete the design process. Specific Skills College Degree in Apparel/Accessories Design, Industrial Design, or relevant course of study. MINIMUM of 2-3 years of relevant work experience including design and product development. Advanced knowledge of current Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3-D. Basic technical understanding of apparel/accessories design, construction/fabrications. Ability to understand the athletic industry across multiple sports. Ability to work on more than one product category. Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast paced/changing environment. Exceptional 2-D and 3-D illustration skills Time Management Skills to manage workflow across multiple seasons while staying consistent with design direction and timelines. Excellent listening and communication skills. Work as a team player with diverse groups and personalities. A positive, PRO-Active attitude with the drive to Do what it takes to get it done! mentality. Ability to work extended workdays when necessary.

FASHION DIRECTOR
Job Description: Fashion director professionals are responsible for a wide variety of tasks that are directly associated to fashion coordination, management, and promotional activities. Also referred as fashion coordinators, these people are tasked to oversee the whole fashion design department. They need to maintain a unified and organized fashion atmosphere to ascertain that the marketing and promotion of a particular fashion line would be a success. As a fashion director, you are expected to assume the following tasks and responsibilities:

devise efficient fashion design plans and foster new fashion concepts properly coordinate advertising as well marketing activities attend runway or fashion shows to acquire new fashion ideas regularly monitor fashion publications and set meetings with designers to keep up with the changing trend evaluate the potential success of a certain clothing line create effective marketing plans and advertising strategies coordinate with salespeople, designers and manufacturers select garments and accessories that will be used for promotional marketing organize photo shoots, magazine events, and fashion shows share fashion insights and analysis with buyers to help them choose the appropriate inventory purchases

Keep in mind that the work of a professional fashion director would entail dedication, perseverance, determination, and good PR skills. Training, Education, Advancement For those who were able to satisfy a high school degree, you can choose from the following course programs to help you acquire the knowledge and skills needed in order to become a professional fashion director.

Associate Degree Program: This a 2-year course program that will allow students to earn an associate degree in fashion design.. This program practically serves as your stepping stone to the 4-year bachelor program. Bachelor's Degree Program: This is a more comprehensive program that will offer fashion director aspirants with extensive knowledge about fashion marketing and merchandising. It is a 4-year course program that will earn you a Bachelor degree. Fashion director aspirants who enroll in a 4-year fashion design program have greater chances of landing lucrative job opportunities.

Master's Degree Program: This is a part of the advanced studies program wherein graduate students will be given the opportunity to elevate their educational status. Fashion director aspirants with a Master's degree will have the opportunity to aim for high-paying and upper-level fashion director positions.

Upper-level fashion director professionals are required to satisfy at least a Bachelor's degree in order to be considered for the position. Hence, fashion director aspirants are highly encouraged to pursue higher educational degrees to land more promising job offers. It is also recommended that fashion director aspirants gain relevant experiences to have the competitive edge. They can acquire work experiences from participating in internship programs (usually facilitated by the fashion design school) or they can also find apprenticeship positions from small fashion boutiques (which is definitely a good starting point). An aspiring fashion director would have to build extensive field experiences before they can actually climb up to top. You should begin by becoming a retail associate then an assistant fashion coordinator and then a fashion coordinator. You have to go through this process before you qualify for the fashion director position.

Job Opportunities Of a Fashion Designer

A fashion designer can work in a number of settings. They can pursue a career in big fashion firms, retail stores, costume design department, or apparel wholesales. Of course, their scope of work will greatly depend on what they are tasked to do. For instance, fashion designers who work at big design firms have to produce unique designs and oversee the whole design process, while those who work in television productions or costume departments are mainly responsible for conceptualizing designs for costume use. Job options are numerous:

Costume-Designer Designs costumes for leading personalities Lead-Designer Supervises development of products Marketer promotes clothing lines and accessories Merchandiser helps maximize sales Patternmaker creates the patterns based on instructions given by lead-designer Sourcer locates suitable raw materials Stylist coordinates accessories with garments for photo-shoots and runway- shows Technical-designers ensure quality and continuity of production Textile-specialist improve fabric Fashion-photographer photographs models and ramp-shows Sewing-machine operator assembles the outfits Fashion-Writer reviews style, trends and shows in magazines and newspapers

A Successful Fashion Career Depends on These Traits

 High levels of creativity and style:The world of fashion is very dynamic and new trends evolve almost everyday. You need to be able to adapt to changing styles and thought processes. Your creativity has to give birth to new ideas for different market segments. Originality has to be your middle name. A strong business sense:Artistic vision is only part of the game. You need to have a head for business to understand both consumers and the marketplace. A good understanding of budgeting and fashion merchandising take your fashion career to the next level. Excellent communication skills:Your skills cannot be restricted to the drawing board. As you climb higher on the ladder, you should be able to convey your vision to those concerned and sell your ideas and creations. Powerful sketching expertise: A fashion career demands exceptional drawing skills for converting concepts into pen-and-paper diagrams which is the blueprint of the production process. Knowledge of Fashion History Setting trends isn't a simple business. Fashion designers have to stay a step ahead. To do that, they need knowledge about previous styles and movements in fashion history. They also need to be aware of current fashion events and developments. Understanding of materials:A fashion designer should be able to innovate with color and fabric to make a design unique. If you can identify which material would be best suited for the design then you are already on the route to success. Abreast of new trends: Do you have a thirst to know more about fashion? If you are pursuing a fashion career, you need to research existing trends and follow upcoming trends. This only comes as a result of hard work and an in-depth understanding of this sector. Belief in teamwork: Garment designing and manufacture involves activities such as pattern-making, sewing, merchandising and so on. Be a team player as it takes a team to bring out an exceptional outfit. Ability to work under pressure: working under tight deadlines, with various people, can be very stressful. Criticism can also be brutal. You need to take criticism constructively and learn from it.

Rina Dhaka

Designer Rina Dhaka styles clothes with a lot of fun. Being in the industry for quite some time, Rina feels that globalization has opened up avenues for young and dynamic women and with it, the options of women designers as well. In one collection, she mixed fur and boots with her Indian outfits, to create a unique look. Every time, Dhaka tries to give four to five looks to in her collection. Early Life Rina Dhaka has been a dreamer ever since her childhood. For her, visuals are always more important than words. After completing her graduation, she did a training project with Intercraft and also trained under Evan Grandhal. She had opened up a salwar kameez boutique for one of her friend. It was also around this time that Mutiny and Ensemble were coming up as fashion houses Rina stated designing for these fashion houses and her designs were well received by the people and thus, it confirmed her entry into fashion forum. Career and Success It was very early in her career when Rina got accolades for one of her design for the Miss India event from Rohit Khosla, the only ingenious designer of that time. The encouragement acted as a booster for Rina, who was all the more excited to bring out the best in her. Her first show in Singapore "The Best of Indian Haute Couture" met with a thumping success. Rina has also won a Yuva Rattan award in career, which is spread over almost three decades now. She is best known for her theme collections - sheer trousers, crochet, stretch jersey, woolens and spider web motifs. Western wear still remains an area of dominance, though she also designs ethnic and conventional attires. Attaining a lot of success nationally. Her works were featured in magazines, such as Vogue and Elle. Brand and Clientele Rina Dhaka has her collections, under the label 'Rina Dhaka', in stores like Carma-Delhi, Design Studio-Mumbai, Kimaya-Mumbai, Selfridges-London, Coin-Italy and Lord and Taylor-New York. She has also opened a studio in Hauz Khaz village for Lycra in Delhi. The clientele list of this bold designer includes eminent personalities such as Naomi Campbell, Uma Thruman, Susan Fales Hill, Molly Simns, Tara Palmen Tomkison, Lara Dutta, and Diana Hayden. Her work has been featured in publications such as Marie Claire Paris, Madame Figaro Paris, Vogue London, New York Post, Vanity Fair, etc.